Monday, November 30, 2015

Our missionary's visa arrived, and he is headed to the Oregon Salem Mission! At the mission home for a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner:

Then very early Monday morning (6:00am), his family arrived at the mission to pick him up and take him to the airport for a send off!

He had a wonderful four weeks! His companion was a missionary who had served in his ward earlier this year. His family was so excited that President assigned them to serve together. Of course, President had no idea of the circumstances, but the Lord knew:)

Sunday, November 29, 2015

We had some wonderful experiences in the mission last week.
We always love gathering the mission and seeing all of our missionaries! Of
course it was an amazing privilege to be taught by a member of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles. Sister Blickenstaff and I were also blessed to attend
Elder Gathright’s family sealing, officiated by Elder Stevenson. Yesterday we
attended a great district conference in Jiayi, where 10 MP holders were
sustained, reaching the number needed to establish a stake! Thank you so much
for your fasting and prayers! We heard once more from Elder and Sister
Stevenson. To coin a phrase from Oliver Cowdery, “These [are] days never to be
forgotten” (JSH 1: 71, footnote).

Although it was a busy week, I was grateful that I took the
time in my personal study to review some of the talks from our recent general
conference, taking several pages of notes. I was looking for teachings that are
particularly relevant to missionaries and missionary work. For example, I was
encouraged by President Uchtdorf’s teaching, “God will take you as you are at
this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a
desire to believe, and trust in the Lord” (Liahona, Oct. 2015, p. 23).This reminds me of the Lord’s statement
to Joseph Smith, “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and
the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last
days” (D&C 64:34).

Elder Richard J. Maynes used the analogy of students
attempting to make a pottery bowl for the first time to teach us the importance
of having Christ at the center of our lives. He said, “If our lives are
centered in Jesus Christ, He can successfully mold us into who we need to be in
order to return to His and Heavenly Father’s presence in the celestial kingdom.
The joy we experience in this life will be in direct proportion to how well our
lives are centered on the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus
Christ” (Liahona, Oct. 2015, p. 28).

Many of you mentioned in your weekly emails how much you
enjoyed Elder Larry R. Lawrence’s admonition for each of us to ask the Lord in
sincere prayer, “What lack I yet?” We can receive direct and straightforward
inspiration on how to improve. He also taught, “When we read our patriarchal
blessings, we are reminded that our Heavenly Father knows our divine
potential. He rejoices every time we take a step forward. To Him, our direction
is ever more important than our speed” (Liahona, Oct. 2015, p. 35).

Think about how your mission is a time of preparation in
light of Elder Robert D. Hales’ counsel, “Your responsibility now is to be
worthy of the person you want to marry. If you want to marry a wholesome,
attractive, honest, happy, hardworking, spiritual person, be that kind
of person” (Liahona, Oct. 2015, p. 46). And this timeless advice from Elder
Dalin H. Oaks, “The healing and strengthening power of Jesus Christ and His
Atonement is for all of us who will ask” (Liahona, Oct. 2015, p. 64). As well
as from President Monson, “When we keep the commandments, our lives will be
happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated. Our challenges and problems
will be easier to bear, and we will receive His promised blessings” (Liahona,
Oct. 2015, p. 83).

How blessed we are to have prophets, apostles and other
Church leaders to give us inspired counsel and direction, tailored to our needs
and our circumstances. How crucial it is to have eyes that see and ears that
hear. It is my hope that we will study these teachings and use them to improve
ourselves and to help others more fully come unto Christ.

The richest blessings come from serving a mission! Our only native Japanese missionary joined the Church when he was twelve years old, through the friendship and example of the Stevenson family. His father had served a mission in France, his mother was not a member. His younger brother was baptized as well. When one of his best friends was later called to serve in the Taiwan Taichung mission, he never dreamed he would serve here too! But when his call came, he too would serve on this beautiful island. Blessings already were coming to pass: his first convert baptism was his mother, just prior to leaving on his mission! Today, the dream of his eternal family came true. His parents and younger brother flew in from Japan and arrived at the Taipei Temple to be sealed for time and all eternity!

On the way to Taipei, our Japanese elder and his companion found opportunity to talk to everyone:

It was a beautiful and sunny day:)

Embracing his parents, who have missed him dearly this past year:

And younger brother:

Elder Stevenson performed the sealing for their very close friends:

The Stevensons were gracious to take photos with everyone coming to the temple to serve the Lord, including one of our returned missionaries:

And a missionary from the southernmost area in our mission, serving in Taipei:

I remember when this sister was waiting to start her service in the Taipei mission. She was recently released and felt inspired to come to the temple today. My how time flies!

We can see the love of the Lord in everything around us!

Celebrating an eternal family!

A brief tour of Chiang Kai Shek Memorial:

The dome above the memorial hall:

Saying goodbye until next August:

Another hug:

Or two! We hope his younger brother will have a chance to serve a mission in Taiwan!

If you would like to read an inspiring story of courage and faith, watch this video about the father of this family from Japan (when he was in college), as told by Elder Stevenson in general conference: